When Helping Others Heals You
The story of a veteran and the power of compassion
There is a quiet truth that runs through Scripture, through history, and through the stories we see unfolding around us every day.
You get out of life what you put into it.
You reap what you sow.
When you pour kindness, compassion, and generosity into the world, it has a way of circling back, often in ways you never expected.
A perfect example happened recently when a young influencer crossed paths with 88-year-old Army veteran Ed Bambas in a Michigan grocery store. Ed had lived a long, faithful life, but hard times had pushed him back into full-time work long after retirement. Instead of walking past him, the influencer stopped. He listened. He cared. A simple moment of kindness.
He shared Ed’s story online. What happened next was breathtaking. People from all over the world stepped in to help. Donations poured in until the GoFundMe reached more than 1.7 million dollars, allowing Ed to finally retire, grieve his late wife, and live out his remaining years with dignity. One small act of compassion became a worldwide reminder that helping one person can spark hope in thousands.
Helping others doesn’t just change their life. It changes yours. You have the power to affect, redirect, and transform the lives of others for the better.
So often we convince ourselves that our ideas, our words, or our efforts don’t matter as much as someone else’s. Not true.
The simplest act of kindness can make someone smile, lift a burden, or remind a tired heart that God has not forgotten them. And in the process, your own heart softens. Your mood lifts. Your spirit heals.
Zig Ziglar said it beautifully.
“You can get everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want.”
The Bible shows this truth again and again. Think of Naomi and Ruth. Naomi longed to secure a future for Ruth. Her loving guidance directed Ruth toward Boaz and helped her find a life of protection and promise.
“My daughter, I must find a home for you, where you will be well provided for.”
Ruth 3:1
By helping Ruth, Naomi helped herself. God wove redemption into both their stories because their hearts were turned toward one another.
Helping others also means being willing to receive help when you need it. Many of us struggle with that part. I know I do. We want to be strong. We want to handle everything ourselves. Yet sometimes the very blessing we are praying for comes through someone else’s hands. When you allow another person to help you, you create space for God to weave His love into your story and link two hearts together.
You were never meant to do life alone. Even Jesus called others to walk with Him. Sometimes helping looks like offering a hand. Sometimes it looks like taking one.
Being of service is not a one-way street. It is a cycle of love, grace, and community. It restores joy. It strengthens hope. It pulls us out of isolation and into purpose. And each time you pour into someone else, God finds a way to pour right back into you.
This is the quiet miracle of generosity.
By helping others, you help yourself.
In January, I’m hosting a Writing to Heal Workshop for Christian Women who need space to slow down, breathe, get unstuck and let God meet them on the page.
If you need a place to rest and release, or you’re just looking for spiritual growth. This is for you.
You’re invited to join me here:
http://actiontakerspublishing.com/w2h
Thank you, Sally. This is just beautiful! I'm learning to live my life this way.
This is such a beautiful read 🥹 thank you
I'm realising that we often underestimate the impact we have on others and how big of a role we play in their lives. Reading this encourages me to reach out more, show more compassion and reminds me to not have that "lone ranger" energy all the time 🫶🏾